Skip to content

Population in Ethiopia compared to Sierra Leone: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 132,059,767 in 2024 vs 8,642,022 people in Sierra Leone in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 139,917,664 people compared to 9,049,533 in Sierra Leone.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 15.5 times bigger than Sierra Leone's.
  • Ethiopia is ranked the 10th most populous country in the world, while Sierra Leone is the 101st.
  • The countries together account for 1.8% of the world: 1.69% for Ethiopia vs 0.11% for Sierra Leone.
  • For the last 10 years, Ethiopia has had an average growth rate of +2.71% per year vs +2.32% in Sierra Leone.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 140M (73.4% growth), while Sierra Leone has grown from 5.62M to 9.05M (60.9% growth).

Ethiopia vs Sierra Leone: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia Sierra Leone
2100 371,192,732 16,111,324
2099 369,452,188 16,126,181
2098 367,626,914 16,139,280
2097 365,680,268 16,154,153
2096 363,648,440 16,164,923
2095 361,707,589 16,173,557
2094 359,642,227 16,173,155
2093 357,570,752 16,177,864
2092 355,499,462 16,175,032
2091 353,327,595 16,168,153
2090 351,068,287 16,158,415
2089 348,859,203 16,146,773
2088 346,624,222 16,133,018
2087 344,268,493 16,116,823
2086 341,777,395 16,089,780
2085 339,272,558 16,068,438
2084 336,753,372 16,044,782
2083 334,186,307 16,011,134
2082 331,503,693 15,975,073
2081 328,816,892 15,935,071
2080 326,114,551 15,896,846
2079 323,382,593 15,854,898
2078 320,521,381 15,805,607
2077 317,590,857 15,754,551
2076 314,615,353 15,699,439
2075 311,583,813 15,639,458
2074 308,511,275 15,584,377
2073 305,477,711 15,516,736
2072 302,351,806 15,446,543
2071 299,211,554 15,374,790
2070 296,054,535 15,297,449
2069 292,847,034 15,216,666
2068 289,612,061 15,128,048
2067 286,279,975 15,032,144
2066 282,992,981 14,935,222
2065 279,662,528 14,837,697
2064 276,283,161 14,740,749
2063 272,866,834 14,642,031
2062 269,424,014 14,529,557
2061 265,885,347 14,423,861
2060 262,350,260 14,311,215
2059 258,772,570 14,198,706
2058 255,284,371 14,080,827
2057 251,733,988 13,960,869
2056 248,079,002 13,836,132
2055 244,501,471 13,706,113
2054 240,868,686 13,579,802
2053 237,228,269 13,444,465
2052 233,551,340 13,303,409
2051 229,804,463 13,156,370
2050 226,124,819 13,010,109
2049 222,420,063 12,867,021
2048 218,694,640 12,716,015
2047 214,950,242 12,570,250
2046 211,226,920 12,414,307
2045 207,525,986 12,257,874
2044 203,812,674 12,092,075
2043 200,097,321 11,931,531
2042 196,411,774 11,770,467
2041 192,749,114 11,602,993
2040 189,081,695 11,431,337
2039 185,422,958 11,262,807
2038 181,789,129 11,100,099
2037 178,179,942 10,931,629
2036 174,569,201 10,760,758
2035 170,957,061 10,585,702
2034 167,367,920 10,413,826
2033 163,813,895 10,241,196
2032 160,216,774 10,062,575
2031 156,638,324 9,883,708
2030 153,070,380 9,708,038
2029 149,507,684 9,532,000
2028 145,989,372 9,360,873
2027 142,463,827 9,179,702
2026 138,973,582 9,001,269
2025 135,513,842 8,822,114
2024 132,059,767 8,642,022
2023 128,691,692 8,460,512
2022 125,384,287 8,276,807
2021 122,138,588 8,094,602
2020 118,917,671 7,912,558
2019 115,737,383 7,731,991
2018 112,664,152 7,554,563
2017 109,666,481 7,379,299
2016 106,718,162 7,205,328
2015 103,867,135 7,037,655
2014 101,115,610 6,876,385
2013 98,438,751 6,714,051
2012 95,798,767 6,551,080
2011 93,149,970 6,387,251
2010 90,538,514 6,222,714
2009 88,007,636 6,055,646
2008 85,543,668 5,894,722
2007 83,103,217 5,749,352
2006 80,703,490 5,624,466
2005 78,367,470 5,501,712
2004 76,077,206 5,355,717
2003 73,832,663 5,177,687
2002 71,635,517 4,971,435
2001 69,487,762 4,692,716
2000 67,411,494 4,423,611
1999 65,374,561 4,318,043
1998 63,363,524 4,295,785
1997 61,404,539 4,253,716
1996 59,467,635 4,199,210
1995 57,537,335 4,179,179
1994 55,611,508 4,173,105
1993 53,708,891 4,157,130
1992 51,853,747 4,166,366
1991 49,717,198 4,246,267
1990 47,609,755 4,196,828
1989 45,879,690 4,034,037
1988 44,150,825 3,934,517
1987 42,460,039 3,829,718
1986 41,037,656 3,728,380
1985 39,842,136 3,638,438
1984 38,735,722 3,558,758
1983 37,740,817 3,481,646
1982 36,701,290 3,408,183
1981 35,304,012 3,338,940
1980 34,428,514 3,272,089
1979 34,238,652 3,207,499
1978 33,734,592 3,145,517
1977 33,167,272 3,085,354
1976 32,534,418 3,028,820
1975 31,723,252 2,974,657
1974 30,957,273 2,920,459
1973 30,166,785 2,866,955
1972 29,374,608 2,814,388
1971 28,600,106 2,763,222
1970 27,829,128 2,712,286
1969 27,072,571 2,661,365
1968 26,337,930 2,611,532
1967 25,620,276 2,562,384
1966 24,952,689 2,514,638
1965 24,310,612 2,468,666
1964 23,666,548 2,424,390
1963 23,051,637 2,382,258
1962 22,465,126 2,342,242
1961 21,906,102 2,304,227
1960 21,376,693 2,268,356

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/sierra-leone | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ethiopia increased by 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth), while Sierra Leone gained 1,580,862 people (a 28.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ethiopia gained 33,199,502 people (a 31.1% growth), while Sierra Leone's population increased by 1,844,205 people (a 25.6% growth).

Ethiopia was ranked 16th most populous country in 2006 and is 10th in 2026. Sierra Leone was ranked 106th in 2006 and ranked 101st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Ethiopia's population will grow by 61.6% to 226,124,819 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of Sierra Leone will increase by 43.8% to 13,010,109 people and rank change from 101st to 91st.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M people compared to the peak of 16.2M people in 2093 for Sierra Leone.

Population growth rate by year

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Sierra Leone
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ethiopia Sierra Leone
2100 0.47% -0.09%
2099 0.5% -0.08%
2098 0.53% -0.09%
2097 0.56% -0.07%
2096 0.54% -0.05%
2095 0.57% 0.002%
2094 0.58% -0.03%
2093 0.58% 0.02%
2092 0.61% 0.04%
2091 0.64% 0.06%
2090 0.63% 0.07%
2089 0.64% 0.09%
2088 0.68% 0.1%
2087 0.73% 0.17%
2086 0.74% 0.13%
2085 0.75% 0.15%
2084 0.77% 0.21%
2083 0.81% 0.23%
2082 0.82% 0.25%
2081 0.83% 0.24%
2080 0.84% 0.26%
2079 0.89% 0.31%
2078 0.92% 0.32%
2077 0.95% 0.35%
2076 0.97% 0.38%
2075 1% 0.35%
2074 0.99% 0.44%
2073 1.03% 0.45%
2072 1.05% 0.47%
2071 1.07% 0.51%
2070 1.1% 0.53%
2069 1.12% 0.59%
2068 1.16% 0.64%
2067 1.16% 0.65%
2066 1.19% 0.66%
2065 1.22% 0.66%
2064 1.25% 0.67%
2063 1.28% 0.77%
2062 1.33% 0.73%
2061 1.35% 0.79%
2060 1.38% 0.79%
2059 1.37% 0.84%
2058 1.41% 0.86%
2057 1.47% 0.9%
2056 1.46% 0.95%
2055 1.51% 0.93%
2054 1.53% 1.01%
2053 1.57% 1.06%
2052 1.63% 1.12%
2051 1.63% 1.12%
2050 1.67% 1.11%
2049 1.7% 1.19%
2048 1.74% 1.16%
2047 1.76% 1.26%
2046 1.78% 1.28%
2045 1.82% 1.37%
2044 1.86% 1.35%
2043 1.88% 1.37%
2042 1.9% 1.44%
2041 1.94% 1.5%
2040 1.97% 1.5%
2039 2% 1.47%
2038 2.03% 1.54%
2037 2.07% 1.59%
2036 2.11% 1.65%
2035 2.14% 1.65%
2034 2.17% 1.69%
2033 2.25% 1.78%
2032 2.28% 1.81%
2031 2.33% 1.81%
2030 2.38% 1.85%
2029 2.41% 1.83%
2028 2.47% 1.97%
2027 2.51% 1.98%
2026 2.55% 2.03%
2025 2.62% 2.08%
2024 2.62% 2.15%
2023 2.64% 2.22%
2022 2.66% 2.25%
2021 2.71% 2.3%
2020 2.75% 2.34%
2019 2.73% 2.35%
2018 2.73% 2.38%
2017 2.76% 2.41%
2016 2.74% 2.38%
2015 2.72% 2.35%
2014 2.72% 2.42%
2013 2.76% 2.49%
2012 2.84% 2.56%
2011 2.88% 2.64%
2010 2.88% 2.76%
2009 2.88% 2.73%
2008 2.94% 2.53%
2007 2.97% 2.22%
2006 2.98% 2.23%
2005 3.01% 2.73%
2004 3.04% 3.44%
2003 3.07% 4.15%
2002 3.09% 5.94%
2001 3.08% 6.08%
2000 3.12% 2.44%
1999 3.17% 0.52%
1998 3.19% 0.99%
1997 3.26% 1.3%
1996 3.35% 0.48%
1995 3.46% 0.15%
1994 3.54% 0.38%
1993 3.58% -0.22%
1992 4.3% -1.88%
1991 4.43% 1.18%
1990 3.77% 4.04%
1989 3.92% 2.53%
1988 3.98% 2.74%
1987 3.47% 2.72%
1986 3% 2.47%
1985 2.86% 2.24%
1984 2.64% 2.21%
1983 2.83% 2.16%
1982 3.96% 2.07%
1981 2.54% 2.04%
1980 0.55% 2.01%
1979 1.49% 1.97%
1978 1.71% 1.95%
1977 1.95% 1.87%
1976 2.56% 1.82%
1975 2.47% 1.86%
1974 2.62% 1.87%
1973 2.7% 1.87%
1972 2.71% 1.85%
1971 2.77% 1.88%
1970 2.79% 1.91%
1969 2.79% 1.91%
1968 2.8% 1.92%
1967 2.68% 1.9%
1966 2.64% 1.86%
1965 2.72% 1.83%
1964 2.67% 1.77%
1963 2.61% 1.71%
1962 2.55% 1.65%
1961 2.48% 1.58%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/sierra-leone | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.62%, while Sierra Leone's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia Sierra Leone
Current population
139917664
9049533
Population rank 10/197 101/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.11%
One net population change
9.36 seconds
2.9 minutes
One birth every
7.68 seconds
2.03 minutes
One death every
41.1 seconds
7.5 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,228 +497
Annual growth/decline +3,368,075 +181,510
Annual growth/decline rate +2.62% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 25/197 47/197
One migration net change every
21.9 minutes
46.6 minutes
Annual migration change +24,054 -11,309
Net migration rank 31/196 136/196
Foreign-born residents 1,168,455 49,997
Foreign-born residents rank 53/195 151/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 157/195 174/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
Sierra Leone
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ethiopia Sierra Leone
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 24,054 - -11,309
2024 - 30,069 - -11,000
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 188,788 -4,000
2022 3,300,114 -11,996 186,625 -4,000
2021 3,204,673 -1,377 183,326 -1,544
2020 3,199,718 38,866 181,015 1,292
2019 3,132,780 -10,807 181,068 -2,238
2018 3,015,231 9,302 178,772 -2,741
2017 2,899,143 71,766 173,259 1,234
2016 2,809,889 115,823 168,784 4,657
2015 2,713,529 62,785 162,275 -356
2014 2,623,647 103,122 160,137 485
2013 2,546,020 80,955 161,265 2,773
2012 2,533,398 119,517 160,915 988
2011 2,527,811 116,793 158,858 6,895
2010 2,498,048 80,213 155,338 7,983
2009 2,467,118 16,315 152,669 18,145
2008 2,465,283 -20,780 149,855 1,182
2007 2,436,753 -381 145,740 -6,042
2006 2,393,585 -30,512 144,127 -34,052
2005 2,353,375 -44,421 137,234 -1,805
2004 2,296,999 -25,430 132,661 23,897
2003 2,231,223 -13,744 130,312 69,185
2002 2,189,683 -12,925 126,429 86,578
2001 2,137,791 -19,063 116,647 227,791
2000 2,083,622 -49,891 110,754 83,013
1999 2,010,987 29,142 102,295 -84,926
1998 1,984,989 -3,011 103,906 -76,766
1997 1,945,112 -9,119 105,433 -48,437
1996 1,896,364 41,456 104,140 -52,110
1995 1,831,068 91,727 100,885 -112,857
1994 1,788,133 140,715 101,486 -77,371
1993 1,734,851 141,545 103,317 -95,476
1992 1,673,839 160,106 103,251 -129,565
1991 1,579,416 859,737 105,477 -238,965
1990 1,479,663 296,014 100,778 131,587
1989 1,441,769 242,614 98,298 -5,079
1988 1,393,356 379,966 96,344 9,470
1987 1,356,853 251,387 94,235 9,558
1986 1,050,277 186,227 90,902 7,992
1985 997,050 157,476 88,869 -7,873
1984 920,670 137,632 87,072 -8,708
1983 863,472 68,022 84,628 -8,783
1982 1,080,853 66,702 82,457 -11,379
1981 1,018,838 628,135 80,111 -12,699
1980 1,007,516 -903,529 77,932 -11,641
1979 987,203 -711,455 75,992 -13,095
1978 943,388 -210,991 74,130 -13,073
1977 929,381 -527,133 71,663 -12,399
1976 899,577 -36,125 69,506 -15,686
1975 801,425 -42,540 67,560 -13,058
1974 777,306 -4,232 65,357 -11,473
1973 807,535 347 62,443 -9,322
1972 779,808 -3,375 60,279 -8,267
1971 787,047 -14,510 58,484 -8,162
1970 760,821 8,589 56,513 -4,957
1969 736,428 7,258 54,768 -4,485
1968 715,602 9,992 53,126 -3,743
1967 695,283 14,437 51,734 -2,819
1966 616,281 9,160 49,486 -2,911
1965 642,359 16,348 47,223 -1,851
1964 618,667 10,749 45,487 -2,308
1963 590,998 9,418 43,569 -2,480
1962 563,650 8,960 41,603 -2,658
1961 538,518 6,938 40,022 -2,947
1960 511,694 1,696 38,192 -3,528

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/sierra-leone | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 98.8% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,237,373 people) and 1.19% is from migration (a gain of 365,488 people). In Sierra Leone 99.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,764,049 people) and 0.41% is from migration (a loss of 7,211 people).

As of 2024, 1,168,455 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Ethiopia, compared to 49,997 people or 0.6% in Sierra Leone.

Biggest cities by population

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
Sierra Leone
City Population
Freetown 951K
Bo 234K
Kenema 188K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/sierra-leone | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.